Inter Miami under investigation after signing Casemiro

Major League Soccer is investigating Inter Miami for alleged tampering after the club signed former Manchester United midfielder Casemiro. The league launched the review immediately after Miami announced the deal, saying it is “reviewing a tampering allegation” and gathering information before any further comment.

The issue centres on MLS discovery rights, which give a specific club first refusal if a player wants to join the league. LA Galaxy held Casemiro’s discovery priority, meaning Miami could not negotiate with him until those rights were acquired. Miami says it obtained the rights from Galaxy, and the two clubs have reached a settlement over the discovery priority, but the terms will only be published once the tampering investigation is complete.

Under MLS rules, clubs can hold up to five players on their discovery list and must secure those rights before approaching a player. If another club contacts a player without permission from the rights‑holding team, that can constitute tampering. Galaxy filed a formal complaint alleging Miami breached those rules, prompting the league’s probe even though the two sides have now agreed a settlement.

This is not the first time Miami have been investigated over transfer dealings. In 2021 they were fined $2m for breaking MLS rules in the signing of Blaise Matuidi, when the league found he had been paid more than allowed, effectively giving Miami four “designated players” instead of the permitted three. That system, known as the “Beckham rule”, was introduced when David Beckham joined LA Galaxy in 2007 and remains central to how MLS clubs sign big‑name stars. Casemiro, 34, left Manchester United at the end of last season after a mutual decision not to renew his contract. He has signed with Miami until the end of the 2027 MLS campaign, with an option to extend to June 2029, and will join Lionel Messi, Sergio Reguilón and Rodrigo De Paul in a star‑studded squad. For now, though, the cloud of the MLS investigation hangs over the deal, with potential penalties still unknown.